Taking a page from the U.S. Open golf tournament, and perhaps from talent contests such as American Idol, the United States Tennis Association today will announce a nationwide playoff for all comers. The prize: A berth in the U.S. Open qualifying tournament.

Beau Biden's decision to forgo a Senate race in Delaware underscores the Democratic Party's challenge of holding onto Senate seats once held by Obama administration officials, including the president and vice president.

Vice President Biden's eldest son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, dealt another blow to the flailing Democratic Party on Monday, announcing that he will not run for the Senate seat long held by his father.

This week's back-to-back retirements by two senior Senate Democrats puts the focus on one of the key questions of this election year: Will Democrats be able to maintain the overwhelming majority that has enabled them to push President Obama's agenda through the Senate, or will Republicans be able to whittle it down?

It was only a few years ago that Sen. Chris Dodd, who announced Wednesday he will not seek a sixth term, enjoyed a soaring approval rating that gave him the confidence to run for president. But times had changed.

Vice President Biden spent the Fourth of July with his son and other American troops in Iraq on Saturday, while the Iraqi government spokesman publicly rejected the American's offer to help with national reconciliation, saying it's an internal affair.